BI2AB1: Applied Biochemistry: from Disease to Diagnostics

Module code: BI2AB1

Module provider: School of Biological Sciences

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Francoise Mazet, email: f.m.mazet@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Chris Jones, email: c.i.jones@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE BI1FB2 OR TAKE BI1BAB2 OR TAKE BI1MB2 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will build on the biochemical concepts covered in BI1FB2 Fundamentals of Biochemistry and provide you with an in-depth exploration of the biochemistry of cellular pathways in both healthy and disease states. You will the explore how changes in these pathways can dictate physiological outcomes and contribute to disease development and progression. The practicals will focus on the technical application of biochemistry whereby you will study the enzymes of the liver and determine how this can be used to diagnose disease. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Examine the roles biochemical processes play in the regulation of human physiology and explain how these adapt to changes in homeostasis. 
2. Discuss the key biochemical concepts of how cells communicate and describe how ligand/receptor systems regulate whole body metabolism. 
3. Develop and test scientific methodologies of own design and evaluate the adjustments needed to obtain a suitable experimental protocol. 
4. Discuss how practical biochemistry can be used to study enzymatic processes and its use in diagnosing disease. 

Module content

Through a series of lecture and discussion tutorials students will acquire an appreciation of the integrated nature of biochemistry across organ systems and the body, and how they affect health with topics such as the gut brain axis and body homeostasis, disruption of endocrine signalling, biochemistry of embryonic development and aging. Several practicals will focus on the technical application of biochemistry to study a set of enzymes, and how the results can be used to diagnose disease. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The learning outcomes will be met through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, laboratory-based practical classes, self-directed learning and directed independent study. Appropriate supplementary information and reading lists will be provided on Blackboard. 

Study hours

At least 38 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs